Briefs: Oct. 21

Civilian Knew of Danger: Witnesses to the attack on Gilbert Roybal over Fiesta weekend criticized what they saw as a lackadaisical response by police and medics wearing red shirts. SFR has learned those medics belonged to the Santa Fe Fire Department. “We are totally confident that we responded appropriately,” Assistant Chief Erik Litzenberg says. “Our feeling is when you’re on a scene, the wait feels longer than it realistically is. Our medics responded as we expected them to; they treated the patient appropriately.”

Emergency call records obtained by SFR confirm an ambulance was en route at least 16 minutes after the attack and officers’ arrival on the scene. Another caller shortly thereafter raised questions that should’ve been known to medical personnel by the time Roybal eventually arrived at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead the next day. “I’m a passerbyer [sic], I didn’t see the accident, but I am certified in CPR and the fact is there’s absolutely no movement from that guy, and I’m just concerned about brain damage or bleeding or contusion in the brain or the head,” the unidentified woman says on the tape. Christus has refused to share details of its response.

State Budget Update: Speaking in the press gallery on Oct. 19, Senate Majority Leader Michael S Sanchez, D-Valencia, left open the possibility that lawmakers would accomplish nothing before adjourning their special session on the budget. “We’ve looked at going home and coming back [in January]. If we’re not moving forward on Wednesday [Oct. 21], there’s no reason to be here until Saturday or Sunday,” Sanchez says.

One thing was clear: President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package was too small to prevent dramatic state budget cuts. One-third of New Mexico’s $3.4 billion stimulus comes in the form of tax credits, with only $252.6 million for “shovel ready” transportation projects, according to an analysis by New Mexico Voices for Children.

Now, the stimulus will be spread even thinner. Budget bills in both the state House and Senate would redirect $25 million in stimulus funds to patch next year’s general fund—which is well over half a billion dollars short—while they steer another $45.5 million directly to the school districts around the state that face cuts.

Teachers and students aren’t the only ones who stand to lose. State Sen. John Pinto, D-McKinley, introduced a joint memorial to “hold harmless” from cuts any tribal members enrolled in the state Medicaid program. The memorial says the state announced cuts to tribal Medicaid programs on Sept. 24, but those “cuts were not discussed in a formal way with the tribes.”